Box connector



May 14, 1940. v. P. N. DANNl 2,200,874

Box CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 16. 1938 2 sheets-sheet 1 W je. 313233 Z 02o' May 14, 1940. P, N, DANN 2,200,874

BOX CONNECTOR- Filed NOV. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES BOX CONNECTOR Paul N. Dann,

Rattan Manufacturing Conn., a corporation i Application November 16,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to box connectors of improved type for the connection of nonrigid conductor-carriers with an electrical device such as an outlet or junction-box or the like. More especially, this invention is concerned with providing box-fittings of superior construction and arrangement for receiving. and gripping exible electric cables.

An object of the present invention is to provide a superior box-fitting which is constructed and arranged to be clamped to a junction-box or the like by operation of a member exteriorly of the box, and in which operation of the securingmember may be performed Without interference.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved box connector constructed and arranged to secure maximum accessibility to and convenience of tool-operaticn of a securing-member exteriorly of a junction-box or the like.

A further object oi the present invention is to provide a superior box connector in which placement of a member thereof having capacity for accommodating-positioning relatively to a securing-member for the accommodation of cable and conductors, may be secured Without interference with movement of the said securing-member adjacent thereto.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a superiorly constructed and arranged box connector in which displacement of a member thereof toward an eXteriorly-arranged securing-member may be effected without interference, protective-enclosure of conductors may be maintained, and unhindered operation of the securing-member may be secured.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a box-fitting of superior construction and arrangement for free and convenient operation of an exteriorly-arranged securing-memberto cause a wall of a junction-box or the like to be securely clamped between rigidly-united means of the box-tting to secure improved mechanical and electrical connections between the box and flexible cable secured in the box-fitting.

With the above and other objects in view, as Will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, vthis invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a straight form of box connector embodying the present invention New Haven, Conn., assignor to The Company, New Haven, f Connecticut 1938, Serial N0. 240,615

and shown inserted in and clamped to a Wall of a junction-box or the like;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box connector shown in Fig. 1, detached from the junction-box or the like;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top View of the coupling-member 10 of the box connector illustrated in Figs. 1 thru 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of the coupling-member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an inner end view of the couplingmember;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the cap-member of the box connector shown in Figs. 1 thru 4;

Fig. 9 is an inner end View of the icap-member;

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of an angletype box connector embodying the present invention and shown clamped in place to a junction-box or the like;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the box connector .25 shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12- is a cross-sectional view takenr on the line I2--I2 of Fig. 11 on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the cap-member of the angle-type box connector.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 thru 9 of the drawings, the present invention is shown therein embodied in a straight-type box connector. This box connector comprises two separable members, a bodyor coupling-member generally designated 35 by the reference character and a cap-member designated as a Whole by the reference character 2|. The coupling-member 20 is arranged for insertion through a knockout-opening 22 in a Wall 23 of a junction-box or the like indicated by the 40 reference character B (Figs. 1, 3, and 4), and to be clamped in place against `the said Wall. Cooperating with the coupling-member 20, the capmember 2| combines therewith to enclose and grip the end-portion of an electric cable such as the armo-red cable designated herein by the reference character C, whereby the conductor or conductors carried in the cable C may be connected with suitable leads or the like (not shown) in the box B.

As is particularly well shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the coupling-member 20 includes an elongated portion Which is substantially U-shaped in crosssection and comprises side-wings 24-24 which extend longitudinally at the respective opposite 55 ed openings 21-21 extending therethrough for` receiving clamping-screws 28-28, as will more fully appear.

At its inner end the said cable-grip portion 25 of the coupling-member 2li merges into and is rigidly united with a circumferential portion of the outer terminal of a bushing 35 which latter extends axially in the longitudinal directionv of the body of the coupling-member 26.

Also provided at the outer terminal ofthe bushing 30, as is -especially well shown in Fig. 6, is a mounting-lug 3i, which is preferably formed integral with the said bushing and extends upwardly therefrom. The mounting-lug Si is provided with a `threaded opening 32 through which the shank of a securingor binding-screw 33 is threaded for engaging with the exterior surface of the wall 23 of the junction-box B adjacent the opening 22 therein.

Arranged oppositely to the mounting-lug Si at th-e inner terminal of the said bushing 33, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7, are spaced upwardly-extending abutment-ingers 35e-35i, which, too, are preferably formed integral with the said bushing. Formed on `the exterior surface intermediate the terminals of the bushing 35 and extending circumferentially around the lower portion thereof is an abutment-ange 35.

As is clear the inner terminal of the bushing 3l! is insertible through the knockout-opening 22 in the wall 23 of the junction-box B and the securing-screw 33 is am'ally movable to engage with the exterior of the said wall and operable to cause the abutment-fingers 34-34 to be drawn outwardly against the interior surface of the wall 23 oppositely thereto to clamp the said wall of the box B between the abutment-fingers 34-34 and the securing-screw 33 and against the abutment-,flange 35 of the bushing 3l).

It is to be observed, that in the above described arrangement, and as is particularly well shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the mounting-lug 3i for the Vsecuring-screw 33 is carried by a portion of the outer terminal of the bushing 3l) which is opposite to and removed from the rigidly-united cable-grip portion 25 of the coupling-member extending longitudinally therefrom.

Cooperating with the coupling-member 2l] just above described is the cap-member 2l therefor, which is constructed and arranged to extend longitudinally along and transversely across the cable-grip portion 25 of thesaid coupling-member.

The cap-member 2l comprises an inner closure-portion 36 and an outer cable-grip portion 37, the latter cooperating in the form of box connector here shown to secure two armored cables C in place in the connector.

For the above purpose the cable-grip portion 3? is formed to provide two concave-convex sections, as is shown particularly well in Fig. 9, and which, in the assembled relationship of the parts, constitute two longitudinally-extending cableconforming sections 38-38 opening toward the said coupling-member 2l). Along adjoining longitudinal edges thereof the said cable-conforming sections 38-38 meet in an internal spacingrib 39 and at the opposite longitudinal edge of each of the said cable-conforming sections a laterally-extending ear 40 is provided. 'Ihe ears 40-4 are arranged to register with the clamp- -ears Zini-26 of the coupling-member 20 and are provided with elongated or oval openings Iii-4i for the passage of thel clamping-screws 28-28 therethrough and into the threaded openings 2'1-21 of the clamp-ears 26-26 to detachably secure the coupling-member kil and the capmember 2i together. The .clamping-screws 28.-28 also serve .to clamp the the cables C between the respective cable-grip portions 3i' and 25 of the cap-member 2l and the coupling-member 20 so as to firmly secure the cables C to the box connector. the displacement .of the cap-member 2i from the coupling-member 2t towardl the securing-screw 33 is determined by the diameter of the cable accommodated therebetween. As shown, the respective opposite longitudinal edges of the cableconforming sections 38-38 and the projecting side-wings 2li-24 extend each toward the other and space the body portions of the cap-member 2l and the coupling-member 2t apart to provide entrance for the armored cables C therebetween.

In the described detachably-secured relationship of the cap-member 2l to the coupling-member 2n, the closure-portion 36 of the said capmember, as is shown particularly well in Figs.

2, 3 and 4, is located intermediate the said coupling-member 2!) and the axially-movable securing-screw 33 and is arranged to cooperate with the said coupling-member to provide a protective enclosure for conductors leading from the cables C into the junction-box B.

As is shown particularly well in Fig. 4 the said closure-portion 36 is provided at the respective opposite sides thereof with skirt-portions :t2-i2 which extend in overlapping relation to portions of the side-Wings 2li-24 which comprise part of the coupling-member 20. Preferably the said closure-portion 36 is also provided at the inner end thereof adjacent the outer terminal of the bushing 30, with spaced abutment-fingers 43-53 which project upwardly from the body of the said closure-portion toward the securing-screw 33. The said abutment-fingers i3`43 of `the cap-member 2l are spaced apart to provide an accommodation-recess l114 therebetween. This accommodation-recess 44 is aligned with and opens toward the securing-screw 33, and is wider than the diameter thereof. The said'accommodation-recess Gt, inr the arrangement here shown and described, is aligned with a second accommodation-recess G5 slightly larger than the recess M.' just referred to, and which extends outwardly therefrom in the closure-portion 36 in substantial alignment with the path of the said securingscrew 33.

In the straight-type box connector here being described location of the cap-member 2| in its cable-accommodating position is secured by placement of the cap-member bodily between the `securing-screw 3S and the coupling-member 221. The lcngitudinally-extending accommodationrecess l5 of the closure-portion 36 merges into a longitudinally-extending depression 48 formed in the cable-grip portion 3'! by the adjoining convexly-curved exterior surfaces of the cableconforming sections 38-38 thereof. In this manner there is provided, in effect, a continuation of the said accommodation-recess which extends substantially throughout the length of the exterior surface of the cap-member in substantialaxial alignment with the securing-screw 33.

I'he vdescribed details of the peculiar construc- As will be clear,l

end-portions of g tion and arrangement of the cap-member 2|, which provides a longitudinal recess in the coextending cable-grip portion 31 and closure-portion 36 thereof and a transversely-extending recess between the spaced abutment-fingers 43-43 thereof adjacent the bushing 30, permit the capmernber 2| to be located in its cable-accommodating position adjacent to the securing-screw 33 without interference with the placement thereof being caused by the said securing-screw. Also as a result of the described structure, the said cap-member 2| in its cable-accommodating position adjacent the axial path of the securingscrew will not hinder the operation of the said securing-screw, as by means of a suitable tool inserted in a slot in the head of the securingscrew, the tool being freely operable to effect unhindered turning of the securing-screw 33.

As will be apparent the provision of the accommodation-recesses i4 and 45 which partially receive the bindingor securing-screw 33, when the cap-member 2l is clamped in place over the cables C, permits the securing-screw just referred to, to be mounted closer to the axis of the bushing 30 with consequent increase in binding efficiency of the said screw 33. Furthermore the accommodation-recesses 44-45 enable a more compact and less bulky box connector to be produced with a minimum of loose parts.

To bring the adaptability of the improved construction and arrangement of the present invention more clearly into view, the novel features thereof are illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13 of the dravmngs, as applied to an angle-type box connector.

In the arrangement shown in the views just above referred to, the box connector is of the 90 angle-type and includes a coupling-member, designated generally by the reference character and having a body-portion, a separable complemental cap-member, designated as a whole by the reference character 5I, and a clamp-member indicated as a whole by the reference character 52.

The said coupling-member 5|] comprises a cable-grip portion 53, semi-circular in cross-section, including as is especially well shown in Figs. 10 and l2, an outer cable-grip section 53a with which the said clamp-member 52 is arranged to cooperate, and an inner cable-grip section 53h with which the said cap-member 5I cooperates.

At the respective opposite sides of the outer cable-grip section 53a laterally-extending clampears 54--54 are provided. The clamp-ears SIS- 54 have threaded openings 55--55 extending therethrough which cooperate to secure the said clamp-member 52 thereto, as will be described.

The said inner cable-grip portion 53h of the coupling-member 50, is provided at one side thereof with a laterally-extending connecting-ear 5% having a threaded opening 51 therethrough, andr at its opposite side the said cable-grip section 53h is provided with a retainer-element 58 (see Fig. l1) having a longitudinally-elongated opening 5S therein for the purpose of securing the cap-member 5! in place on the coupling-member 50, as

will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the interior of the coupling-member 55, and as is particularly well shown in Fig. 12, a cablelimiting shoulder 6D is formed which merges into a bushing 62 at an angle of approximately 90 to the longitudinal axis of the cable-grip portion 53, the said bushing being insertable through a knockout-opening 63 in a wall B4 of a junctionbox or the like, indicated by the reference character B.

At the outer terminal of the bushing 52 and as in the arrangement heretofore described, an upwardly-extending mounting-lug 6l is provided with a threaded opening 53 through which the shank of a securing-screw or binding-screw 69 is threaded.

Also similar to the arrangement previously described, upwardly-extending abutment-fingers 'H0-lil are located at the inner terminal of the said bushing 62 oppositely to the said mountinglug 657i thereon; and intermediate the terminals of the said bushing an1 abutment-shoulder l is provided on the lower circumferential exterior surface thereof.

As has been explained in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the securing-screw 69 may be turned to draw the abutment-fingers iiilli against the interior surface of the wall t@ of the junctionbox B to clamp the said wall between the said abutment-fingers and the securing-screw and against the abutment-shoulder ll.

Detachably secured to the coupling-member 5i! is the clamp-member 52 having a central bodyportion, complemental to the outer cable-grip section 53a of the said coupling-member to provide entrance for and to cooperate in gripping a cable C therebetween.

The said clamp-member 52 at one side thereof, is provided, as is particularly well shown in Fig. 1l, with a laterally-extending ear 12. The said ear has an opening 13 therethrough for one of two clamping-screws 'i4-JM which is arranged to pass therethrough and to be threaded through the opening of a clamp-ear 5d of the couplingmember 5l). At its opposite side the clamp-member 52 is provided with a slot 'I5 resulting in the formation of a hook 'l5 arranged to loosely enclose the shank of the other clamping-screw l. This other clamping-screw 'M may be threaded through the opening 55 in the adjacent clamp-.ear 5&1 of the coupling-member 55.

Loosening of the clamping-screws ld-lli enables the clamp-member 52 to be swung outwardly about the clamping-screw liassociated with the ear 'l2 to cause the hook 'it to move outwardly and downwardly with respect tc the clamping-screw 14 loosely enclosed thereby, and permit the cable C to be inserted. The said clampmember 52 may thereafter be swung upwardly and inwardly over the said cable C and the clamping-screws 'lll- 111 may be tightened to securely grip the said cab-le between the clamp-member 52 and the coupling-member 5i).

Preferably at its inner end the said clampmember 52 is provided with a segmental wallportion l1, as is clearly shown in Figs. l0 and l2. The said wall-portion Ti extends outwardly transversely of the body of the said clamp-member and is arranged to substantially close the outer terminal ofthe cap-member 5! now to be' described.

in the preferred arrangement, the cooperating cap-member 5i is detachably secured to the coupling-member 50 for movement relatively thereto to accommodate arranging and positioning of cable and conductors carried thereby, within the box connector.

As is especially well shown in Fig. 13 the said cap-member 5I includes a cable-grip portion 18, which at its inner end terminates in a rounded closure-portion 19.

The said cable-grip portion it is arranged to complement the inner cable-grip portion 53h of the coupling-member 50 (see Fig. 12) and to cooperate therewith to receive and grip the cable C therebetween. At one of its opposite sides the said cable-grip portion 78 is provided with a laterally-extending finger 80 which is receivable in and movable in the retainer-member 58 of the coupling-member 5t. At the opposite side thereof the said cable-grip portion carries a hook 8l which forms a slot B2 for loosely enclosing the shank of a connecting-screw 83. The slot 82 opens downwardly toward the slot l5 of the clamp-member 52 and is longitudinally elongated. The shank of the connecting-screw 83 passes through the said slot 82 and through the threaded opening 51 in the connecting-ear 56 to bring the head of the connecting-screw into engagement with the hook 8| and the adjacent side of the said cap-member 5I.

With the connecting-screw 83 backed off the hook 8| and the shank thereof loosely enclosed by the slotl 82 the cap-member 5l may be bodily longitudinally moved to cause the said hook thereof to shift with respect to the said connectingscrew and the finger 8E thereof to move along the retainer-member 58. Shifting of the capmember 5l in this manner will cause the cablegrip portion T8 thereof to be moved longitudinally f along the said cable-grip portion 53h' of the coupling-member 50.

Referring to the drawings it will be observed that at its inner end the cap-member 5I is provided with a flange 84. For accommodating longitudinal shifting of the cap-member 5I toward the mounting-lug 67 and the securing-screw BS, the flange S of the said cap-member is provided with an accommodation-recess 85. The wall of the closure-portion i9 adjacent the said flange thereof is grooved or channeled to provide a second accommodation-recess 85 intersecting thev accommodation-recess 85 and leading inwardly therefrom, With the described arrangement, the mounting-lug 61 for the securing-screwmay be received in the accommodation-recess 8S and the accommodation-recess 85 permits the capmember 5| to be longitudinally shifted by providing the desired clearance for the securingscrew 69.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that the cap-member 5I cooperates with the coupling member 50 to provide a protective enclosure for conductors leading from the cable C, and to enclose the outer terminal of the bushing 62 through which the conductors pass to the interior of the junction-box B.

Without materially affecting the described protective enclosure for conductors carried by the cable C, the cap-member 5l may be moved relatively to the coupling-member 5t, as has been described, in the direction of the mounting-lug 61 and the securing-screw 69 and the accommodation-recesses 85-86 provided in the said capmember 5l will enable such movement to be effected without interference therewith by the securing-screw 69. In its shifted position the capmember 5| will provide increased space for the positioning and arrangement of the bended portions of conductors and by reason of the accommodation-recesses 85--86 provided therein will not interfere with operation of a suitable tool to turn the securing-screw 69.

Provision is also made for insuring proper securement of the cable in place in the box connector and for this purpose abutment-ridges 81--88, are respectively formed on the facing interior surfaces of the coupling-member' 50 and clamp-member 52. cable in the box connector is thus prevented and good mechanical connection between the junction-box B and the cable C is thereby established.

In the described arrangements it will be perceived that substantial advantage is secured in providing on the bushing of a box connector mounting-means for a bindingor securingmember accessibly mounted exteriorly of a junction-box -or the like to securely clamp the said box connector thereto. Proper connection is thus greatly facilitated with respect to time and convenience.

The disclosed relative arrangements, i.e., of a bushing secured to a junction-box and rigidly united with a portion of a coupling-member engaging and gripping a cable, results in material improvement in the quality of the required mechanical connections between a box and a cable and provides effective electrical connection also when metal-armored cables are employed.

Twisting or turning of the- It is also of advantage to make provision for relative shifting of a member of the box conmodation of cable or for the conductors carried thereby. At the same time the practical utility of such devices is improved where, as in the present arrangements, such accommodation-shifting may be accomplished and the desired protective enclosure for conductors may be maintained.

With the foregoing advantages the arrangements of the present invention combine the highly desirable features of providing for the securement of a box connector without occasioning interference between parts of the said box connector, and of providing maximum accessibility to the exteriorly-operable securing-means.

Observation may also be made of the fact that box connectors constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention and fitted thereby to secure the advantages referred to herein, are further featured by being comprised o-f few-parts. 'Ihe parts of the box connector are of rugged construction and the arrangement thereof is compact with a view toward confinements with respect to space frequently encountered in the installation of junction-boxes or the like and connectors therefor.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention,y and the present em.- bodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range ofthe appendedclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A box connector for electrical-cable comprising: a cable-engaging coupling-member including a nipple for bushing an opening in a box and having an abutment-finger at its inner end, an oppositely-arranged mounting-lug at the outer end thereof, land an outwardly-projecting securing-screw threaded through said mountingand said outer securing-screw;v va separable cableengaging cap-member for said coupling-member having an extending-portion thereof' between the coupling-member and said outwardly-projecting securing-screw; and adjustable clampingdevices for the separable coupling-member and cap-member; said cap-member being shiftable toward said outwardly-projectmg securing-screw and being constructed and arranged for positioning in non-interfering relation to operation of said securing-screw exteriorly of said box.

2. A box connector for electrical-cable comprising: a cable-engaging coupling-member including 'a nipple for bushing an opening in a box and having abutment-lingers at its inner end, an oppositely-arranged mounting-lug at the outer end thereof, and an outwardly-projecting securing-screw threaded through said mountinglug for securing said box adjacent said opening, respectively between said inner abutment-lingers and said outer securing-screw; a separable cableengaging cap-member for said coupling-member having an extending-portion thereof between the coupling-member and said outwardly-projecting securing-screw; and adjustable clamping-devices for the separable coupling-member and caprnember; said cap-member being shiftable toward said outwardly-projecting securing-screw and the said extending-portion thereof being provided with a recess located below and in alignment With said outwardly-projecting securingscrew, the cap-memberbeing thereby constructed and arranged f'or positioning in non-interfering relation to operation of said securing-screw exteriorly of said box.

3. A box connector for electrical-cable comprising: a cable-engaging coupling-member inf having an extending-portion thereof between the coupling-member and said outwardly-projecting `securing-screw; and adjustable clamping-devices for the separable coupling-member and cap- Inember; said cap-member being shiftable toward said outwardly-projecting securing-screw and the said extending-portion thereof being provided with a recess below and in alignment with said outwardly-projecting securing-screw, the capmember structure deining said recess comprising segmental-anges carried by said extendingportion thereof and spaced apart for' positioning adjacent to and at opposite sides of said outwardly-projecting securing-screw, and the lsaid cap-member being thereby constructed and arranged for positioning in non-interfering relation to operation of said securing-screw exteriorly of said box.

PAUL N. DANN.- 

